Image forming apparatus and processing method for reuse of sheet

ABSTRACT

According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, a fixing device, and a control section. The image forming section forms images on a sheet with a recolorable decolorable colorant and an undecolorable colorant. The fixing device heats the sheet to fix the recolorable decolorable colorant and the undecolorable colorant on the sheet. The control section performs temperature control for the fixing device and fixes the recolorable decolorable colorant and the undecolorable colorant on the sheet at temperature higher than decoloring start temperature of the recolorable decolorable colorant to thereby fix the recolorable decolorable colorant on the sheet in a decolored state and fix the undecolorable colorant on the sheet in a colored state.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromU.S. provisional application 61/419,439, filed on Dec. 3, 2010; theentire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a technique for formingan image on a sheet to reuse the sheet.

BACKGROUND

In the past, there is known a reusing method for a sheet employing adecolorable colorant that is decolored if heated. In the reusing method,after a sheet on which an image is formed with the decolorable colorantis heated to decolor the image, an image is overwritten with thedecolorable colorant again, whereby the sheet is reused.

In this way, in the past, the decolorable colorant is simply used as acolorant for decoloring and overwriting an image. However, it ispossible that the decolorable colorant can be put to various uses. Thereis a demand for development of new uses of the decolorable colorant anddevelopment of an image forming apparatus that forms an image using thedecolorable colorant to match the uses.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a sheet reusing system according to a firstembodiment;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of functional sections included ina control section of an image forming apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram for explaining characteristics of tonersand fixing control for the toners;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of functional sections included ina control section of a sheet reusing apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining reuse processing for a sheet by thesheet reusing system;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of images before fixing formed on a sheet;

FIG. 7 is a diagram of the images fixed on the sheet;

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a state in which answers are written by a liquiddecolorable pen;

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a state in which correction results are writtenby the liquid decolorable pen;

FIG. 10 is a diagram of an image forming apparatus according to a secondembodiment;

FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram for explaining characteristics of tonersand fixing control for the toners;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart for explaining reuse processing for a sheet by asheet reusing system;

FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram for explaining characteristics of tonersand fixing control for the toners in a third embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart for explaining reuse processing for a sheet by asheet reusing system;

FIG. 15 is a diagram of an example of an image formed on a sheet; and

FIG. 16 is a diagram of another example of the image formed on thesheet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, according to one embodiment, an image forming apparatusincludes an image forming section, a fixing device, and a controlsection. The image forming section forms images on a sheet with arecolorable decolorable colorant and an undecolorable colorant. Thefixing device heats the sheet to fix the recolorable decolorablecolorant and the undecolorable colorant on the sheet. The controlsection performs temperature control for the fixing device and fixes therecolorable decolorable colorant and the undecolorable colorant on thesheet at temperature higher than decoloring start temperature of therecolorable decolorable colorant to thereby fix the recolorabledecolorable colorant on the sheet in a decolored state and fix theundecolorable colorant on the sheet in a colored state.

In general, according to another embodiment, an image forming apparatusincludes an image forming section, a fixing device, and a controlsection. The image forming section forms images on a sheet with arecolorable decolorable colorant and an unrecolorable decolorablecolorant, decoloring start temperature of which is higher thandecoloring start temperature of the recolorable decolorable colorant.The fixing device heats the sheet to fix the recolorable decolorablecolorant and the unrecolorable decolorable colorant on the sheet. Thecontrol section performs temperature control for the fixing device andfixes the recolorable decolorable colorant and the unrecolorabledecolorable colorant on the sheet at temperature higher than thedecoloring start temperature of the recolorable decolorable colorant andlower than the decoloring start temperature of the unrecolorabledecolorable colorant to thereby fix the recolorable decolorable coloranton the sheet in a decolored state and fix the unrecolorable decolorablecolorant on the sheet in a colored state.

In general, according to still another embodiment, an image formingapparatus includes an image forming section, a fixing device, and acontrol section. The image forming section forms images on a sheet witha recolorable decolorable colorant and an unrecolorable decolorablecolorant, decoloring start temperature of which is higher thandecoloring start temperature of the recolorable decolorable colorant.The fixing device heats the sheet to fix the recolorable decolorablecolorant and the unrecolorable decolorable colorant on the sheet. Thecontrol section performs temperature control for the fixing device andfixes the recolorable decolorable colorant and the unrecolorabledecolorable colorant on the sheet at temperature lower than decoloringcompletion temperature of the recolorable decolorable colorant tothereby fix both the recolorable decolorable colorant and theunrecolorable decolorable colorant on the sheet in a colored state.

In general, according to still another embodiment, an image formingapparatus includes an image forming section, a fixing device, and acontrol section. The image forming section forms images on a sheet witha recolorable decolorable colorant and an unrecolorable decolorablecolorant, decoloring start temperature of which is higher thandecoloring start temperature of the recolorable decolorable colorant.The fixing device heats the sheet to fix the recolorable decolorablecolorant and the unrecolorable decolorable colorant on the sheet. Thecontrol section performs temperature control for the fixing device andfixes the recolorable decolorable colorant and the unrecolorabledecolorable colorant on the sheet at temperature lower than decoloringstart temperature of the unrecolorable decolorable colorant to therebyfix the recolorable decolorable colorant on the sheet in a decoloredstate and fix the unrecolorable decolorable colorant on the sheet in acolored state or fix both the recolorable decolorable colorant and theunrecolorable decolorable colorant on the sheet in the colored state.

Embodiments are explained below with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a sheet reusing system 1. The sheet reusingsystem 1 includes an image forming apparatus 100 and a sheet reusingapparatus 300.

An image forming apparatus 100 is an MFP (Multi Function Peripheral).The image forming apparatus 100 includes a sheet conveying path 10,cassettes 11, an image forming section 2, a fixing device 12, and apaper discharge tray 13. The sheet conveying path 10 includes conveyingrollers. After causing a sheet extracted from the cassettes 11 to passthrough the sections 2 and 12, the sheet conveying path 10 dischargesthe sheet onto the paper discharge tray 13. The image forming section 2includes an electrifying roller 20, developing devices 21 and 22,photoconductive members 23 and 24, an intermediate transfer belt 25, atransfer roller 26, a control section 27, a display section 28, and anoperation input section 29.

The electrifying roller 20 charges the photoconductive members 23 and24.

Electrostatic latent images are formed on the photoconductive members 23and 24 by a laser optical system.

The developing devices 21 and 22 supply toners Ga and Gb, which arestored therein, to the photoconductive members 23 and 24 with developingrollers 211 and 221 and develop the electrostatic latent images on thephotoconductive members 23 and 24.

The developing device 21 develops the electrostatic latent image on thephotoconductive member 23 using the recolorable decolorable toner Ga (adecolorable colorant). The decolorable toner Ga starts to be decoloredat decoloring start temperature slightly lower than decoloringcompletion temperature 90° C. and is completely decolored at thedecoloring completion temperature 90° C. The decolorable toner Ga startsto be recolored at recoloring start temperature slightly higher thanrecoloring completion temperature −5° C. and is completely recolored atthe recoloring completion temperature −5° C.

The developing device 22 develops the electrostatic latent image on thephotoconductive member 24 using the undecolorable toner Gb (colorant).

Both or one of the developing devices 21 and 22 may include a singledeveloping device that stores toners GaK and GbK of K (black). Both orone of the developing devices 21 and 22 may include a developing devicethat stores toners GaY and GbY of Y (yellow), a developing device thatstores toners GaM and GbM of M (magenta), a developing device thatstores toners GaC and GbC of C (Cyan), and a developing device thatstores toners GaK and GbK of K.

The photoconductive members 23 and 24 transfer an image formed with thedecolorable toner Ga and an image formed with the undecolorable toner Gbonto the intermediate transfer belt 25.

The transfer roller 26 is applied with a voltage having polarityopposite to the polarity of the toner images on the intermediatetransfer belt 25 (in the case of a negatively charged toner, a positivevoltage) to thereby transfer the images on the intermediate transferbelt 25 onto a sheet.

The fixing device 12 includes a fixing roller 121 and a pressing roller122 that nips and conveys the sheet in cooperation with the fixingroller 121. The fixing roller 121 includes a heater on the insidethereof and is heated by the heater. The fixing roller 121 may be aroller, the outer circumferential surface of which is heated by an IH(Induction Heating) coil opposed to the outer circumferential surface.

The control section 27 includes a processor 271, an ASIC (ApplicationSpecific Integrated Circuit) 272, a memory 273, and an HDD (Hard DiskDrive) 274 and controls the entire image forming apparatus 100 includingthe image forming section 2 and the fixing device 12. The controlsection 27 includes a fixing-temperature control section 275 as afunctional section realized by the processor 271 reading a computerprogram stored by the memory 273 and the HDD 274 or a functional sectionrealized by the ASIC 272 (FIG. 2).

The display section 28 is a touch panel. The operation input section 29is buttons. The image forming apparatus 100 receives an operation inputof a user through the display section 28 and the operation input section29.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram for explaining characteristics of thetoners Ga and Gb and fixing control for the toners Ga and Gb.

Even if the decolorable toner Ga is colored on a sheet, the decolorabletoner Ga starts to be decolored if heated to the decoloring starttemperature (e.g., 85° C.) slightly lower than the decoloring completiontemperature 90° C. and is completely decolored at the decoloringcompletion temperature 90° C. The decoloring start temperature indicatestemperature at which image density (ID) by the decolorable toner Ga in acolored state is equal to or lower than 75 percent. The decoloringcompletion temperature indicates temperature at which image density bythe decolorable toner Ga in the colored state is equal to or lower than25 percent.

Once decolored, the decolorable toner Ga is not colored even attemperature equal to or lower than the decoloring completion temperature90° C. However, even if the decolorable toner Ga is decolored on asheet, the decolorable toner Ga starts to be recolored if cooled torecoloring start temperature (e.g., 0° C.) slightly higher than therecoloring completion temperature −5° C. and is completely recolored atthe recoloring completion temperature −5° C. The recoloring starttemperature indicates temperature at which image density by thedecolorable toner Ga in a decolored state is equal to or higher than 25percent. The recoloring completion temperature indicates temperature atwhich image density by the decoloring toner Ga in the decolored state isequal to or higher than 75 percent.

Once recolored, the decolorable toner Ga is colored even at temperatureequal to or higher than the recoloring completion temperature −5° C.However, the decolorable toner Ga is decolored again if heated to thedecoloring completion temperature 90° C.

In a state in which the undecolorable toner Gb is colored on the sheet,the undecolorable toner Gb is not decolored even if heated to hightemperature or cooled to low temperature and maintains the coloredstate.

The fixing device 12 fixes, under the control by the control section 27,the decolorable toner Ga and the undecolorable toner Gb on the sheet attemperature 105° C. to 125° C. higher than the decoloring completiontemperature 90° C. of the decolorable toner Ga. Consequently, the fixingdevice 12 fixes the decolorable toner Ga on the sheet in the decoloredstate and fixes the undecolorable toner Gb on the sheet in the coloredstate.

In other words, in this embodiment, on the sheet on which the images areformed by the image forming apparatus 100, at the room temperature(e.g., 20° C.), the image formed with the decolorable toner Ga isdecolored and in an invisible state and only the image formed with theundecolorable toner Gb is colored and is in a visible state.

By cooling the sheet to temperature equal to or lower than therecoloring completion temperature −5° C., it is possible to recolor theimage formed with the decolorable toner Ga and both the image formedwith the decolorable toner Ga and the image formed with theundecolorable toner Gb are in the visible state. By heating the sheet totemperature equal to or higher than the decoloring completiontemperature 90° C., the image formed with the decolorable toner Ga isdecolored and only the image formed with the undecolorable toner Gbreturns to the visible initial state. This state is maintained even atthe room temperature (e.g., 20° C.).

If the temperature of the fixing device 12 exceeds 125° C. during thefixing of the toners Ga and Gb on the sheet, the viscosity of the tonersGa and Gb falls and high-temperature offset occurs in which the tonersGa and Gb adhere to the fixing roller 121 side. Therefore, in thisembodiment, in order to prevent occurrence of the high-temperatureoffset, the temperature of the fixing device 12 is controlled to 115°C.±10° C.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the sheet reusing apparatus 300 includes asheet conveying path 30, a cassette 31, first reading sections 32,heating sections 33, cooling sections 34, second reading sections 35, acontrol section 38, reusable sheet cassettes 36, an unreusable sheetcassette 37, a communication section 39, a display section 40, and anoperation input section 41.

After causing a sheet in the cassette 31 to pass through the sections 32to 35, the sheet conveying section 30 discharges the sheet to thecassettes 36 and 37.

The cassette 31 stores sheets on which images are formed by the imageforming apparatus 100.

Two first reading sections 32 for front side reading and rear sidereading for a sheet are provided and read images on the front and rearsides of the sheet almost at the same time. As the first readingsections 32, for example, CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensors canbe adopted. The first reading sections 32 read images of the sheetbefore decoloring or images of the sheet before recoloring. Image dataread by the first reading sections 32 is stored in a memory 383 of thecontrol section 38.

Two cooling sections 34 for front side cooling and rear side cooling fora sheet are provided. The cooling sections 34 are Peltier elements. Thecooling sections 34 cool, under the control by the control section 38,the decolorable toner Ga in the decolored state on the sheet attemperature −5° C. to −10° C. equal to or lower than the recoloringcompletion temperature −5° C. to thereby recolor the decolorable tonerGa and set the image formed with the decolorable toner Ga in the visiblestate. The cooling sections 34 may have structure for cooling the sheetusing vaporization heat of liquid or may have structure for cooling thesheet using, liquid nitrogen, dry ice, ice or the like.

Two heating sections 33 for front side heating and rear side heating fora sheet are provided. The heating sections 33 are heat rollersincorporating lamps. The heating sections 33 heat, under the control bythe control section 38, the decolorable toner Ga on the recolored sheetat temperature 90° C. to 125° C. higher than the decoloring completiontemperature 90° C. of the decolorable toner Ga to thereby decolor thedecolorable toner Ga again and set the image formed with the decolorabletoner Ga in the invisible state. Like the fixing device 12 of the imageforming apparatus 100, in order to prevent occurrence of thehigh-temperature offset of the toners Ga and Gb, the heating sections 33heat the sheet at 90° C. to 125° C. The heating sections 33 may bethermal bars, roller including IH heaters, belt heating devices, and thelike.

Like the first reading sections 32, the second reading sections 35 areCCDs or the like and read images on the front and rear sides of thesheet almost at the same time. The second reading sections 35 readimages of the sheet after decoloring or images of the sheet afterrecoloring. Image data read by the second reading sections 35 is storedin the memory 383.

The control section 38 includes a processor 381, an ASIC 382, a memory383, and an HDD 384 and controls the entire sheet reusing apparatus 300.The control section 38 includes a recoloring-temperature control section385, a decoloring-temperature control section 386, and a determiningsection 387 as functional sections realized by the processor 381 readinga computer program stored in the memory 383 and the HDD 384 orfunctional sections realized by the ASIC 382 (FIG. 4).

Among the functional sections 385 to 387, the determining section 387determines, from the image data read by the second reading sections 35,on the basis of the surface reflectance or the like of the sheetsubjected to the decoloring processing and the recoloring processing,whether the sheet is reusable (whether the decoloring and the recoloringare sufficient). If the sheet is subjected to the decoloring processing,the determining section 387 determines that the sheet is reusable if thesurface reflectance of the sheet is equal to or higher than a thresholdand determines that the sheet is unreusable if the surface reflectanceof the sheet is lower than the threshold. If the sheet is subjected tothe recoloring processing, the determining section 387 determines thatthe sheet is reusable if the surface reflectance of the sheet is lowerthan the threshold and determines that the sheet is unreusable if thesurface reflectance of the sheet is equal to or higher than thethreshold.

The control section 38 discharges the sheet determined as reusable tothe reusable sheet cassettes 36 and discharges the sheet determined asunreusable to the unreusable sheet cassette 37.

The communication section 39 performs, under the control by the controlsection 38, transmission and reception of data to and from an externalapparatus connected to the sheet reusing apparatus 300 to be capable ofcommunicating with each other. The communication section 39 transmitsthe image of the sheet before the decoloring and the image of the sheetbefore the recoloring read by the first reading sections 32 to adatabase and transmits the images to an address of a user to enable theuser to receive the images with a PC (Personal Computer) in the user'shome.

The display section 40 is a touch panel. The operation input section 41is buttons. The sheet reusing apparatus 300 receives an operation inputof the user through the display section 40 and the operation inputsection 41.

An example of reuse processing for a sheet by the sheet reusing system 1is explained below with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 5. Theprocessors 271 and 381 read computer programs non-temporarily stored bythe memories 273 and 383, whereby the apparatuses 100 and 300 performthe reuse processing for a sheet.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of images 91 and 92 before fixing formed on a sheet.

The image forming apparatus 100 forms, with the image forming section 2,images on a sheet using the recolorable decolorable toner Ga and theundecolorable toner Gb (Act 1). In this embodiment, the image formingapparatus 100 forms a question part 91 using the undecolorable toner Gband forms a correct answer part 92 using the recolorable decolorabletoner Ga.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of the images 91 and 92 fixed on the sheet.

The image forming apparatus 100 (the fixing-temperature control section275) heats and presses, with the fixing device 12, at temperature 105°C. to 125° C. higher than the decoloring completion temperature 90° C.of the decolorable toner Ga, the sheet on which the images including thequestion part 91 and the correct answer part 92 are formed (Act 2).Consequently, the image forming apparatus 100 fixes, in the coloredstate, on the sheet, the question part 91 formed with the undecolorabletoner Gb and fixes, in the decolored state, on the sheet, the correctanswer part 92 formed with the decolorable toner Ga.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a state in which answers are written by a liquiddecolorable pen.

After Act 2, a user A such as a student writes answers on the sheet witha liquid decolorable pen (Act 21). The liquid decolorable pen means apen containing decolorable ink that is decolored if heated. The liquiddecolorable pen is publicly known. For example, the decolorable ink ofthe liquid decolorable pen has decoloring completion temperature of 75°C. In the following explanation, an image written on the sheet by theuser and formed by the liquid decolorable pen is referred to as penwritten part 93.

A user B such as a teacher different from the user A sets the sheet onwhich the user A writes the answers in the sheet reusing apparatus 300and instructs the sheet reusing apparatus 300 to recolor the image (thecorrect answer part 92) (a recoloring mode). The sheet reusing apparatus300 (the recoloring-temperature control section 385) cools the sheetwith the cooling section 34 at temperature −5° C. to −10° C. equal to orlower than the recoloring completion temperature −5° C. of therecolorable decolorable toner Ga and recolors the correct answer part 92in the decolored state (Act 3).

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a state in which correction results are writtenby the liquid decolorable pen.

After recoloring the correct answer part 92 in the sheet reusingapparatus 300, the user B writes correction results on the sheet (thepen written part 93) with the liquid decolorable pen referring to thecorrect answer part 92 (Act 31).

After writing the correction results, the user B sets the sheet in thesheet reusing apparatus 300 again and instructs the sheet reusingapparatus 300 to decolor the images (the correct answer part 92 and thepen written part 93) (a decoloring mode).

Then, first, the sheet reusing apparatus 300 reads, with the firstreading sections 32, the images on the sheet for which answer checkingis performed and stores image data in the memory 383 (Act 4). The sheetreusing apparatus 300 transmits the image data of the sheet for whichthe answer checking is performed to the database and transmits the imagedata to an address of the user A such as a student to enable the user Ato receive the image data in a PC in the user' s home (Act 5).

At the same time, the sheet reusing apparatus 300 (thedecoloring-temperature control section 386) heats, with the heatingsections 33, the sheet at temperature 105° C. to 125° C. higher than thedecoloring completion temperature 90° C. of the decolorable toner Ga anddecoloring completion temperature 75° C. of the decolorable ink of theliquid decolorable pen (Act 6). Consequently, both the correct answerpart 92 formed with the decolorable toner Ga and the pen written part 93formed by the liquid decolorable pen are decolored and set in theinvisible state (the state shown in FIG. 7).

Thereafter, the sheet reusing apparatus 300 reads, with the secondreading sections 35, the image on the sheet on which the correct answerpart 92 and the pen written part 93 are decolored (Act 7).

Subsequently, the sheet reusing apparatus 300 (the determining section387) determines, on the basis of the image data read by the secondreading sections 35, from the surface reflectance or the like of thesheet subjected to the decoloring processing, whether the sheet isreusable (Act 8).

If the sheet reusing apparatus 300 determines that the sheet is reusablebecause the surface reflectance of the sheet is equal to or higher thanthe threshold (YES in Act 8), the sheet reusing apparatus 300 dischargesthe sheet to the reusable sheet cassettes 36 (Act 9). Consequently, theusers can perform the answering, the recoloring, and the answer checkingagain using the sheet in the reusable sheet cassettes 36 and can reusethe sheet as a question sheet.

On the other hand, if the sheet reusing apparatus 300 determines thatthe sheet is unreusable because the surface reflectance of the sheet islower than the threshold (NO in Act 8), the sheet reusing apparatus 300discharges the sheet to the unreusable sheet cassette 37 (Act 10).

In the past, a decolorable toner is fixed on a sheet in a state in whichthe decolorable toner is colored and a sheet is heated to decolor animage formed with the decolorable toner. In the past, the sheet isreused by overwriting a decolored portion with the decolorable toneranew.

In this embodiment, unlike the past, the decolorable toner Ga and theundecolorable toner Gb are fixed on the sheet in a state in which thedecolorable toner Ga is decolored and the undecolorable toner Gb iscolored.

Consequently, in this embodiment, first, the image formed with thedecolorable toner Ga can be set in the invisible state. Therefore, thesheet can be put to various uses. For example, as explained in thisembodiment, after writing an image on the sheet with the liquiddecolorable pen, it is possible to recolor the image formed with thedecolorable toner Ga by cooling the sheet and additionally write a newimage on the basis of the recolored image.

In this embodiment, after writing an image on the sheet with the liquiddecolorable pen, it is possible to combine the image formed with theundecolorable toner Gb, which is visible from the beginning, the imagewritten by the liquid decolorable pen, and the image recolored with thedecolorable toner Ga by cooling the sheet and complete one picture orfigure or a sentence. It goes without saying. that the sheet can be putto a useful use without writing by the liquid decolorable pen. Forexample, it is possible to combine the image formed with theundecolorable toner Gb, which is visible from the beginning, and theimage recolored with the decolorable toner Ga by cooling the sheet.Consequently, it is possible complete one picture or figure or asentence having new meaning and effect.

In this way, this embodiment can provide unprecedented uses of the sheet(the decolorable toner Ga).

Second Embodiment

FIG. 10 is a diagram of an image forming apparatus 100A. FIG. 11 is aconceptual diagram for explaining characteristics of toners Ga and Gcand fixing control for the toners Ga and Gc.

In this embodiment, in the image forming apparatus 100A, as in the firstembodiment, the developing device 21 forms an image as the correctanswer part 92 on the photoconductive member 23 using the recolorabledecolorable toner Ga. In this embodiment, the decolorable toner Ga iscompletely decolored at decoloring completion temperature 80° C. and iscompletely recolored at recoloring completion temperature −5° C.

On the other hand, unlike the first embodiment, the developing device 22forms an image as the question part 91 on the photoconductive member 24using the unrecolorable decolorable toner Gc (a decolorable colorant),decoloring start temperature of which is temperature higher than thedecoloring completion temperature 80° C. of the decolorable toner Ga(temperature slightly lower than 100° C.)

The sheet reusing system 1 according to this embodiment includes theimage forming apparatus 100A and the sheet reusing apparatus 300 same asthe sheet reusing apparatus 300 according to the first embodiment.

Reuse processing for a sheet by the sheet reusing system 1 is explainedwith reference to a flowchart of FIG. 12.

The image forming apparatus 100A forms the correct answer part 92 withthe recolorable decolorable toner Ga and forms the question part 91 withthe unrecolorable decolorable toner Gc, decoloring start temperature ofwhich is higher than the decoloring completion temperature 80° C. of thedecolorable toner Ga (Act 1A).

The image forming apparatus 100A (the fixing-temperature control section275) heats and presses, with the fixing device 12, at temperature 90° C.higher than the decoloring completion temperature 80° C. of therecolorable decolorable toner Ga and lower than decoloring starttemperature of the unrecolorable decolorable toner Gc, the sheet onwhich the question part 91 and the correct answer part 92 are formed(Act 2A).

Consequently, the image forming apparatus 100A fixes, in the decoloredstate, on the sheet, the correct answer part 92 formed with therecolorable decolorable toner Ga and fixes, in the colored state, on thesheet, the question part 91 formed with the unrecolorable decolorabletoner Gc.

Subsequently, the user A such as a student writes answers on the sheetwith the liquid decolorable pen and forms the pen written part 93 (Act21).

The user B such as a teacher sets the sheet in the sheet reusingapparatus 300 and recolors the correct answer part 92 (Act 3). The userB writes correction results on the sheet (the pen written part 93) withthe liquid decolorable pen referring to the correct answer part 92 (Act31).

The user B sets the sheet in the sheet reusing apparatus 300. If theuser B decolors only the correct answer part 92 and the pen written part93 and reuses the sheet as a question sheet again, the user B operatesthe display section 40 and the operation input section 41 and instructsthe sheet reusing apparatus 300 to that effect. If the user B decolorsall the question part 91, the correct answer part 92, and the penwritten part 93 and reuses the sheet as white paper, the user Binstructs the sheet reusing apparatus 300 to that effect.

The sheet reusing apparatus 300 reads the images on the sheet (Act 4)and transmits image data to the database and an address of the user Asuch as a student (Act 5).

If the sheet reusing apparatus 300 (the decoloring-temperature controlsection 386) receives the instruction to reuse the sheet as a questionsheet (YES in Act 600), the sheet reusing apparatus 300 heats the sheetat temperature 90° C. higher than the decoloring completion temperature80° C. of the recolorable decolorable toner Ga and lower than thedecoloring start temperature of the unrecolorable decolorable toner Gc(Act 6A). Consequently, only the correct answer part 92 and the penwritten part 93 are decolored and only the question part 91 is colored.

On the other hand, if the sheet reusing apparatus 300 (thedecoloring-temperature control section 386) receives the instruction toreuse the sheet as white paper (NO in Act 600), the sheet reusingapparatus 300 heats the sheet at temperature 110° C. higher thandecoloring completion temperature 100° C. of the unrecolorabledecolorable toner Gc (Act 61). Consequently, all the question part 91,the correct answer part 92, and the pen written part 93 are decoloredand the sheet changes to white paper.

Thereafter, the sheet reusing apparatus 300 reads the images on thesheet (Act 7). If the decoloring is sufficient and the sheet is reusable(YES in Act 8), the sheet reusing apparatus 300 discharges the sheet tothe reusable sheet cassettes 36 (Act 9). If the decoloring isinsufficient and the sheet is unreusable (NO in Act 8), the sheetreusing apparatus 300 discharges the sheet to the unreusable sheetcassette 37 (Act 10).

In this embodiment, the decolorable toner Gc, the decoloring starttemperature of which is higher than the decoloring start temperature ofthe decolorable toner Ga, is used instead of the undecolorable toner Gb.Therefore, it is possible to change the sheet to white paper by heatingthe sheet at temperature 110° C. equal to or higher than the decoloringcompletion temperature 100° C. of the decolorable toner Gc. It ispossible to further increase uses of the reuse of the sheet

Third Embodiment

The image forming apparatus 100A according to a third embodiment is thesame as the image forming apparatus 100A according to the secondembodiment. The image forming apparatus 100A forms images on a sheetwith the recolorable decolorable toner Ga and the unrecolorabledecolorable toner Gc, the decoloring start temperature of which ishigher than the decoloring completion temperature of the decolorabletoner Ga. The sheet reusing apparatus 300 according to this embodimentis the same as the sheet reusing apparatus 300 according to the secondembodiment. This embodiment is different from the second embodiment in amethod of controlling the image forming apparatus 100A. In thisembodiment, the image forming apparatus 100A prints a sentence formemorization on a sheet. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, thedecoloring completion temperature of the recolorable decolorable tonerGa is set to 90° C. and the decoloring completion temperature of theunrecolorable decolorable toner Gc is set to 110° C.

Reuse processing for a sheet by the sheet reusing system 1 according tothis embodiment is explained below with reference to a flowchart of FIG.14.

FIG. 15 is an example of an image formed on a sheet.

Before fixing of the image, the image forming apparatus 100A forms asentence part 94, which is a sentence, on a sheet with the unrecolorabledecolorable toner Gc. The image forming apparatus 100A forms amemorization part 95, which is a part that a user desires to memorize inthe sentence, on the sheet with recolorable decolorable toner Ga (Act1B). In forming the sentence part 94 and the memorization part 95, forexample, the image forming apparatus 100A may form the memorization part95 in a color different from a color of the sentence part 94 and makethe memorization part 95 conspicuous if both the sentence part 94 andthe memorization part 95 are in a colored state.

Subsequently, the image forming apparatus 100A (the fixing-temperaturecontrol section 275) fixes the sentence part 94 and the memorizationpart 95 on the sheet at temperature 80° C. lower than the decoloringstart temperature of the decolorable toner Ga (Act 2B). Consequently,both the sentence part 94 and the memorization part 95 are fixed on thesheet in the colored state.

After memorizing the memorization part 95 (Act 21B), the user sets thesheet in the sheet reusing apparatus 300. If the user decolors thememorization part 95, the user instructs the sheet reusing apparatus 300to that effect. If the user decolors all the sentence part 94 and thememorization part 95 and reuses the sheet as a white paper, the userinstructs the sheet reusing apparatus 300 to that effect.

If the sheet reusing apparatus 300 (the decoloring-temperature controlsection 386) receives the instruction to decolor the memorization part95 (YES in Act 600B), the sheet reusing apparatus 300 heats the sheet attemperature 100° C. higher than the decoloring completion temperature90° C. of the recolorable decolorable toner Ga and lower than thedecoloring start temperature of the unrecolorable decolorable toner Gc(Act 6B). Consequently, only the memorization part 95 formed with thedecolorable toner Ga is decolored and the sentence part 94 formed withthe decolorable toner Gc is maintained in the colored state.

Therefore, since the memorization part 95 changes to a blank space, theuser can easily check, while reading the sentence part 94, whether theuser memorizes the memorization part 95 (Act 31B). In checking whetherthe user memorizes the memorization part 95, the user may write a memoor the like on the sheet with a liquid decolorable pen.

If the user desires to recolor the memorization part 95, the user setsthe sheet in the sheet reusing apparatus 300 again and instructs thesheet reusing apparatus 300 to recolor the memorization part 95.Consequently, the sheet reusing apparatus 300 (therecoloring-temperature control section 385) cools the sheet attemperature −5° C. to −10° C. equal to or lower than the recoloringcompletion temperature −5° C. of the decolorable toner Ga and recolorsthe memorization part 95 formed with the decolorable toner Ga (Act 3B).

On the other hand, if the sheet reusing apparatus 300 (thedecoloring-temperature control section 386) receives the instruction toreuse the sheet as white paper in Act 600B (NO in Act 600B), the sheetreusing apparatus 300 heats the sheet at temperature 120° C. higher thanthe decoloring completion temperature 110° C. of the unrecolorabledecolorable toner Gc, decolors all the sentence part 94 and thememorization part 95, and changes the sheet to white paper (Act 61B).

In this embodiment, both the recolorable decolorable toner Ga and theunrecolorable and decolorable toner Gc, the decoloring start temperatureof which is higher than the decoloring completion temperature 90° C. ofthe decolorable toner Ga, are fixed on the sheet in the colored state.Therefore, it is possible to select whether only a part of the image isdecolored or the entire image is decolored by heating the sheet. It ispossible to provide unprecedented uses of the sheets (the decolorabletoners Ga and Gc).

In this embodiment, as in the first and second embodiments, before thedecoloring processing 6B and 61B, an image on the sheet written by theliquid decolorable pen may be read and image data may be stored in thememory 383. The image data may be transmitted to the database or thelike. After the decoloring processing 6B and 61B, it may be determined,according to whether the decoloring is sufficient, whether the sheet isreusable. The sheet may be diverted to the cassettes 36 and 37 accordingto a result of the determination.

FIG. 16 is another example of the image formed on the sheet.

In this embodiment, before fixing of the image, the image formingapparatus 100A may form the sentence part 94 on the sheet with theunrecolorable decolorable toner Gc. The image forming apparatus 100A mayform, with the recolorable decolorable toner Ga, a mask part 96 in aportion desired to be hidden in the sentence part 94 (Act 1B).

In this case, the image forming apparatus 100A (the fixing-temperaturecontrol section 275) fixes the sentence part 94 and the mask part 96 onthe sheet at temperature 80° C. lower than the decoloring starttemperature of the decolorable toner Ga and fixes both the sentence part94 and the mask part 96 on the sheet in the colored state (Act 2B).

If the sheet reusing apparatus 300 (the decoloring-temperature controlsection 386) receives an instruction to decolor the mask part 96 (YES inAct 600B), the sheet reusing apparatus 300 heats the sheet attemperature 100° C. higher than the decoloring completion temperature90° C. of the recolorable decolorable toner Ga and lower than thedecoloring start temperature of the unrecolorable decolorable toner Gc(Act 6B) and decolors only the mask part 96.

In this way, first, the portion desired to be hidden from the user canbe hidden by the mask part 96. The user can use the sheet as, forexample, a worm hole question sentence. The user can decolor the maskpart 96 and check at a correct answer by heating the sheet at thepredetermined temperature 100° C. with the sheet reusing apparatus 300.After checking the correct answer, the user can recolor the mask part 96and reuse the sheet as a question sheet by cooling the sheet with thesheet reusing apparatus 300. The user can decolor both the sentence part94 and the mask part 96 and reuse the sheet as white paper by heatingthe sheet at the predetermined temperature 120° C. with the sheetreusing apparatus 300.

Modifications

In the embodiments, the image forming apparatuses 100 and 100A transfertoners onto a sheet via the photoconductive members 23 and 24 to formimages on the sheet. However, the image forming apparatuses 100 and 100Amay eject inks on the sheet to form images on the sheet. In other words,the image forming apparatuses 100 and 100A do not have to use powderydecolorable toners as decolorable colorants and may use liquiddecolorable inks.

In the embodiments, the sheet is cooled by the sheet reusing apparatus300. However, the user may bring a container containing ice into contactwith the sheet to cool the sheet.

In the embodiments, the image forming apparatuses 100 and 100A and thesheet reusing apparatus 300 are separate bodies However, the functionsof the sheet reusing apparatus 300 may be added to the image formingapparatuses 100 and 100A.

In the first and second embodiments, during the fixing, the recolorabledecolorable colorant Ga is fixed in the completely decolored state byheating the sheet at temperature equal to or higher than the decoloringcompletion temperature of the recolorable decolorable colorant Ga.However, during the fixing, the recolorable decolorable colorant Ga maybe fixed on the sheet in a state in which a part of the recolorabledecolorable colorant Ga is decolored, i.e., a state in which the densityof the image is low by heating the sheet at temperature equal to orhigher than the decoloring start temperature of the recolorabledecolorable colorant Ga and equal to or lower than the decoloringcompletion temperature of the recolorable decolorable colorant Ga.

In the third embodiment, as in the first and second embodiments, therecolorable decolorable colorant Ga does not have to be fixed in thecompletely colored state. The recolorable decolorable colorant Ga may befixed on the sheet in a partially decolored state, i.e., a state inwhich the density of the image is low by heating the sheet attemperature equal to or higher than the decoloring start temperature ofthe recolorable decolorable colorant Ga and equal to or lower than thedecoloring completion temperature of the recolorable decolorablecolorant Ga.

In the embodiments, the image may be recolored in a state in which thedecolorable colorant Ga is not completely recolored but is partiallyrecolored, i.e., a state in which the density of the image is low byheating the sheet at temperature equal to or lower than the recoloringstart temperature of the recolorable decolorable colorant Ga and equalto or higher than the recoloring completion temperature of therecolorable decolorable colorant Ga.

If decolorable ink of the liquid decolorable pen starts to be recoloredat low temperature (e.g. −10° C.), when the sheet is cooled to recolorthe image of the decolorable toner Ga, the sheet may be cooled attemperature (e.g., −5° C. to −10° C.) equal to or lower than therecoloring completion temperature (e.g., −5° C.) of the decolorabletoner Ga and equal to or higher than recoloring start temperature (−10°C.) of the decolorable ink. In this way, it is possible to recolor onlythe image formed with the decolorable toner Ga while preventingrecoloring of writing by the liquid decolorable pen.

After the image formed with the decolorable toner is recolored, theimage on the sheet may be read by the second reading sections 35. On thebasis of the image data, if the recoloring is sufficient, the sheet maybe determined as reusable and may be discharged to the reusable sheetcassettes 36. If the recoloring is insufficient, the sheet may bedetermined as unreusable and may be discharged to the unreusable sheetcassette 37.

A form of a recording medium may be any form as long as the recordingmedium is a recording medium that can store a computer program and canbe read by a computer. Specifically, examples of the recording mediuminclude an internal storage device mounted on the inside of the computersuch as a ROM or a RAM, a portable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, aflexible disk, a DVD disk, a magneto-optical disk, or an IC card, adatabase that stores a computer program, and other computers anddatabases of the computers. Functions obtained by installation ordownload may be functions realized in cooperation with an OS or the likein an apparatus. The computer program may be an execution module that isdynamically generated partially or entirely.

The order of the kinds of processing in the embodiments may be differentfrom the order explained as an example in the embodiments.

The decoloring start temperatures, the decoloring completiontemperatures, the recoloring start temperatures, and the recoloringcompletion temperatures of the toners Ga, Gb, and Gc, the fixingtemperature that is the heating temperature of the sheet, the coolingtemperature of the sheet, and the like in the embodiments may be set asappropriate.

As explained above in detail, according to the technique descried inthis specification, it is possible to provide a technique for forming animage on a sheet to reuse the sheet.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of invention. Indeed, the novel apparatus, methods and systemdescribed herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms;furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form ofthe apparatus, methods and system described herein may be made withoutdeparting from the sprit of the inventions. The accompanying claims andtheir equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications aswould fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.

1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming sectionconfigured to form images on a sheet with a recolorable decolorablecolorant and an undecolorable colorant; a fixing device configured toheat the sheet to fix the recolorable decolorable colorant and theundecolorable colorant on the sheet; and a fixing-temperature controlsection configured to perform temperature control for the fixing deviceand fix the recolorable decolorable colorant and the undecolorablecolorant on the sheet at temperature higher than decoloring starttemperature of the recolorable decolorable colorant to thereby fix therecolorable decolorable colorant on the sheet in a decolored state andfix the undecolorable colorant on the sheet in a colored state.
 2. Theapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a cooling sectionconfigured to cool the sheet; and a recoloring-temperature controlsection configured to perform temperature control for the coolingsection and cool the sheet to temperature equal to or lower thanrecoloring start temperature of the recolorable decolorable colorant. 3.The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a readingsection configured to read the images on the sheet; and a communicationsection configured to transmit read image data.
 4. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a reading section configuredto read, after the image formed with the recolorable decolorablecolorant is recolored, the images on the sheet subjected to, decoloringprocessing by heating; and a determining section configured todetermine, on the basis of image data of the sheet, whether the sheet isreusable.
 5. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image formingsection configured to form images on a sheet with a recolorabledecolorable colorant and an unrecolorable decolorable colorant,decoloring start temperature of which is higher than decoloring starttemperature of the recolorable decolorable colorant; a fixing deviceconfigured to heat the sheet to fix the recolorable decolorable colorantand the unrecolorable decolorable colorant on the sheet; a controlsection configured to perform temperature control for the fixing deviceand fix the recolorable decolorable colorant and the unrecolorabledecolorable colorant on the sheet at temperature higher than thedecoloring start temperature of the recolorable decolorable colorant andlower than the decoloring start temperature of the unrecolorabledecolorable colorant to thereby fix the recolorable decolorable coloranton the sheet in a decolored state and fix the unrecolorable decolorablecolorant on the sheet in a colored state.
 6. The apparatus according toclaim 5, further comprising a cooling section configured to cool thesheet, wherein the control section performs temperature control for thecooling section and cools the sheet to temperature equal to or lowerthan recoloring start temperature of the recolorable decolorablecolorant.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: areading section configured to read the images on the sheet; and acommunication section configured to transmit read image data.
 8. Theapparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: a reading sectionconfigured to read, after the image formed with the recolorabledecolorable colorant is recolored, the images on the sheet subjected todecoloring processing for the recolorable decolorable colorant byheating or decoloring processing for the recolorable decolorablecolorant and the unrecolorable and decolorable colorant by heating; anda determining section configured to determine, on the basis of imagedata of the sheet, whether the sheet is reusable.
 9. An image formingapparatus comprising: an image forming section configured to form imageson a sheet with a recolorable decolorable colorant and an unrecolorabledecolorable colorant, decoloring start temperature of which is higherthan decoloring start temperature of the recolorable decolorablecolorant; a fixing de vice configured to heat the sheet to fix therecolorable decolorable colorant and the unrecolorable decolorablecolorant on the sheet; and a control section configured to performtemperature control for the fixing device and fix the recolorabledecolorable colorant and the unrecolorable decolorable colorant on thesheet at temperature lower than decoloring completion temperature of therecolorable decolorable colorant to thereby fix both the recolorabledecolorable colorant and the unrecolorable decolorable colorant on thesheet in a colored state.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 9,further comprising a cooling section configured to cool the sheet,wherein the control section performs temperature control for the coolingsection and cools the sheet to temperature equal to or lower thanrecoloring start temperature of the recolorable decolorable colorant.11. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming sectionconfigured to form images on a sheet with a recolorable decolorablecolorant and an unrecolorable decolorable colorant, decoloring starttemperature of which is higher than decoloring start temperature of therecolorable decolorable colorant, a fixing device configured to heat thesheet to fix the recolorable decolorable colorant and the unrecolorabledecolorable colorant on the sheet; and a control section configured toperform temperature control for the fixing device and fix therecolorable decolorable colorant and the unrecolorable decolorablecolorant on the sheet at temperature lower than decoloring starttemperature of the unrecolorable decolorable colorant to thereby fix therecolorable decolorable colorant on the sheet in a decolored state andfix the unrecolorable decolorable colorant on the sheet in a coloredstate or fix both the recolorable decolorable colorant and theunrecolorable decolorable colorant on the sheet in the colored state.12. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a coolingsection configured to cool the sheet, wherein the control sectionperforms temperature control for the cooling section and cools the sheetto temperature equal to or lower than recoloring start temperature ofthe recolorable decolorable colorant.
 13. A processing method for reuseof a sheet comprising: forming images on the sheet with a recolorabledecolorable colorant and an undecolorable colorant; and fixing therecolorable decolorable colorant and the undecolorable colorant on thesheet at temperature higher than decoloring start temperature of therecolorable decolorable colorant to thereby fix the recolorabledecolorable colorant on the sheet in a decolored state and fix theundecolorable colorant on the sheet in a colored state.
 14. The methodaccording to claim 13, further comprising, after fixing the recolorabledecolorable colorant on the sheet in the decolored state and fixing theundecolorable colorant on the sheet in the colored state, cooling thesheet to temperature equal to or lower than recoloring start temperatureof the recolorable decolorable colorant.
 15. The method according toclaim 13, further comprising: recoloring the image formed with therecolorable decolorable colorant; reading the images on the sheet onwhich the image formed with the recolorable decolorable colorant isrecolored; and transmitting read image data.
 16. The method according toclaim 13, further comprising: recoloring the image formed with therecolorable decolorable colorant; heating the sheet on which the imageformed with the recolorable decolorable colorant is recolored andsubjecting the sheet to decoloring processing; reading the images on thesheet subjected to the decoloring processing; and determining, on thebasis of image data of the sheet, whether the sheet is reusable.
 17. Aprocessing method for reuse of a sheet comprising: forming images on thesheet with a recolorable decolorable colorant and an unrecolorabledecolorable colorant, decoloring start temperature of which is higherthan decoloring start temperature of the recolorable decolorablecolorant; and fixing the recolorable decolorable colorant and theunrecolorable decolorable colorant on the sheet at temperature higherthan the decoloring start temperature of the recolorable decolorablecolorant and lower than the decoloring start temperature of theunrecolorable decolorable colorant to thereby fix the recolorabledecolorable colorant on the sheet in a decolored state and fix theunrecolorable decolorable colorant on the sheet in a colored state. 18.The method according to claim 17, further comprising, after fixing therecolorable decolorable colorant on the sheet in the decolored state andfixing the undecolorable colorant on the sheet in the colored state,cooling the sheet to temperature equal to or lower than recoloring starttemperature of the recolorable decolorable colorant.
 19. The methodaccording to claim 17, further comprising: recoloring the image formedwith the recolorable decolorable colorant; reading the images on thesheet on which the image formed with the recolorable decolorablecolorant is recolored; and transmitting read image data.
 20. The methodaccording to claim 17, further comprising: recoloring the image formedwith the recolorable decolorable colorant; heating the sheet on whichthe image formed with the recolorable decolorable colorant is recoloredand subjecting the sheet to decoloring processing; reading the images onthe sheet subjected to the decoloring processing; and determining, onthe basis of image data of the sheet, whether the sheet is reusable. 21.A processing method for reuse of a sheet comprising: forming images onthe sheet with a recolorable decolorable colorant and an unrecolorabledecolorable colorant, decoloring start temperature of which is higherthan decoloring start temperature of the recolorable decolorablecolorant; and fixing the recolorable decolorable colorant and theunrecolorable decolorable colorant on the sheet at temperature lowerthan decoloring completion temperature of the recolorable decolorablecolorant to thereby fix both the recolorable decolorable colorant andthe unrecolorable decolorable colorant on the sheet in a colored state.22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising, after fixingboth the recolorable decolorable colorant and the unrecolorabledecolorable colorant on the sheet in the colored state, cooling thesheet to temperature equal to or lower than recoloring start temperatureof the recolorable decolorable colorant.
 23. A processing method forreuse of a sheet comprising: forming images on the sheet with arecolorable decolorable colorant and an unrecolorable decolorablecolorant, decoloring start temperature of which is higher thandecoloring start temperature of the recolorable decolorable colorant;and fixing the recolorable decolorable colorant and the unrecolorabledecolorable colorant on the sheet at temperature lower than thedecoloring start temperature of the recolorable decolorable colorant tothereby fix the recolorable decolorable colorant on the sheet in adecolored state and fix the unrecolorable decolorable colorant on thesheet in a colored state or fix both the recolorable decolorablecolorant and the unrecolorable decolorable colorant on the sheet in thecolored state.
 24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising,after fixing both the recolorable decolorable colorant and theunrecolorable decolorable colorant on the sheet, cooling the sheet totemperature equal to or lower than recoloring start temperature of therecolorable decolorable colorant.